Measuring apparatus for the geometric checking and-or correction of railroad tracks

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a measuring apparatus for the geometric checking or correction of railroad tracks, which is of the type incorporating two measuring means extending in the lengthwise direction of the track. A deformable mechanism serves to operatively interconnect the two measuring means, each of which bears upon at least one of both rails of the railroad track. The deformable mechanism incorporates at least two converging rod members. The one respective end portions of the two converging rod members are pivotably connected with one of the measuring means through the agency of a movable element and the opposite end portions of these two converging rod members are pivotably connected with the other measuring means.

United States Patent M'EASURINE; Ari iiiifius ron riic CEOMETRICCHECKING AND/0R CORRECTION or RAILROAD TRACKS 9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figsi [1.8. CI 33/174 R, 33/145 Int. Cl G0lb 5/20 Field of Search .t 33/l 44- --I46, I74 A, 180A,60, l R

References Cited Primary Examiner-Harry N. Haroian .4l!urne \'-.lacobi,Davidson & Kleeman ABSTRACT: There is disclosed a measuring apparatusfor the geometric checking or correction of railroad tracks, which is ofthe type incorporating two measuring means extending in the lengthwisedirection of the track. A deformable mechanism serves to operativelyinterconnect the two measuring means, each of which bears upon at leastone of both rails of the railroad track. The deformable mechanismincorporates at least two converging rod members. The one respective endportions of the two converging rod members are pivotably connected withone ofthe measuring means through the agency of a movable element andthe opposite end portions of these two converging rod members arepivotably connected with the other measuring means.

PATENTED JUL27 I911 SHEET 1 [IF 3 INVENTOR. 660 9 Siarmar:

ATTORNEYS SHEET 3 0F 3 PATENTEB JUL2 7 I9?! INVENTOR Gan/7R0 UrounwezATTORNEY TRACKS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionbroadly relates to track maintenance equipment and, in its more specificaspects, concerns an improved measuring apparatus for the geometricchecking and/or correction of railroad tracks.

The work required for the maintenance of railroad tracks has a real needfor machines which are suitable for checking the geometric condition ofthe track and, if need be, for correcting this condition. It is forthese reasons that modern track maintenance machines are equipped withdifferent measuring systems. The most widespread used systems employ areference datum which is movable along the track with the machine.

The use of a relative reference datum enables the measurement of errorsappearing at the lengthwise profile of the track and, consequently toreduce such to a certain degree.

Attempts have been made to improve the results obtained with the aid ofrelative reference datums in that there are employed reference datums ofvery great length. However, such datums are composed of very longelements, so that the entire structure from which the datum ismaterialized, is exceptionally flexible and subjected to oscillations orvibrations which impair proper functioning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of thepresent invention to provide an improved measuring apparatus of theaforementioned type which effectively overcomes the previously mentioneddrawbacks associated with the prior art constructions.

Another, more specific object of the preset invention relates toimproved measuring apparatus for the geometric checking and/orcorrection of railroad tracks in a relatively simple, accurate andreliable fashion.

Still a further noteworthy object of the present invention relates to animproved type of measuring apparatus for the geometric checking,correction, or both, of railroad tracks in a relatively simple manner inrelation to the prior art techniques used for this purpose, and whereinthe apparatus structure is extremely economical to manufacture,relatively easy to use, and provides for accurate results.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of thepresent invention, which will become more readily apparent as thedescription proceeds, the inventive measuring apparatus is manifested bythe features that it incorporates two measuring means or devices whichextend in the lengthwise direction ofthe track and which are operativelyinterconnected with one another by means of a deformable mechanism. Eachmeasuring device is supported upon at least one of both rails of thetrack, with the position of each measuring device being determined bytwo reference points. According to an important aspect of the invention,the deformable mechanism embodies at least two converging rod members,of which the one ends thereof are pivotably connected with one of themeasuring devices and the opposite ends thercofwith the other measuringdevice through the agency of a movable element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be betterunderstood, and objects other than those set forth above, will becomeapparent when consideration is given to the following detaileddescription thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexeddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment ofinventivemeasuring apparatus for the geometric checking and/or correction ofrailroad tracks;

FIGS. 2 to 6, inclusive, schematically depict the operation ofthemeasuring apparatus shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 6b schematically depicts a further arrangement of the convergingrod members in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the track;

FIG. 7 is a graphic illustration serving to explain the operation ofthemeasuring apparatus of FIG. I; and,

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a modified form ofinventive measuringapparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings,the exemplary illustrated embodiment of inventive measuring apparatusdepicted in FIG. 1

will be seen to comprise three different successively arranged elementsI, 2 and 3. In the description to follow, the elements I and 3 eachdefining a reference datum will each be conveniently referred to as ameasuring device or means and the remaining element 2 as a deformablemechanism. The measuring device I will be seen to datum l. consist ofalong tubular member 4, the front end 5 of which is secured to a rollermember 6. Roller member 6 bears upon the rail 7 at the support point A.The other or opposite end of the tubular member 4 is secured to acarriage 8 which bears by means of a roller 9 at support point B uponthe rail 7. Points A and B define the terminal points of a straight lineof the corresponding reference datum 1.

Considering now the element 2, namely, the deformable mechanism, it willbe seen that such embodies two converging rod members 10 and 11. Theserod members 10, II which are situated above one another, are pivotablyconnected at locations 10a and Ila, respectively, with the carriage 8and are connected with a movable measurement element or portion 16 ofthemeasuring device 3.

Now, the measuring device 3 will be seen to be composed of a frame unit12, the front region of which bears by means of a roller 13 at supportpoint C and the rear end of which by means ofa roller 14 at supportpoint D upon the rail 7. Points C and D define the terminal points of astraight line of the other corresponding reference datum 3. Frame unit 7is rigidly connected with a track maintenance machine 15 and supports,pretty exactly over the point C, the rotationally movable mechanism 16.The neighboring ends of both rod members 10 and 11 are articulated at10b and llb, respectively, with this rotationally movable mechanism 16.Mechanism 16 can, for instance, be an indicating device, a controldevice for correcting the position of the track, or a combination ofthese two type units. Hence, from what has been stated above, it will beseen that the measuring device 3 defines a first reference datumsupported at the points C and D defining a straight line, and the othermeasuring device 1 defines a'second reference datum supported at thepoints'A and B likewise defining a straightline.

According to an important aspect of this invention, the depictedapparatus structure utilizes quite advantageously the characteristics ofthe converging rod members 10, II. The mode of operation is readilyunderstandable by making reference now to FIGS. 2 to 7, inclusive. Itwill be understood that point P represents the point of intersection orconvergence of the extensions ofthe converging rod members 10 and II. Itis assumed that this virtual or imaginary point P is located verticallyabove the point A. The rollers 6, 9, l3 and 14 are situated in alignedfashion upon a straight line, as best observed by referring to FIG. 2.Furthermore, it is presupposed that the rail member 7 is deformed at thepoint B, that is to say at the location where the roller member 9 bears,as schematically indicated for instance in FIGS. 3 and 4. Owing to thearticulated mounting of the rod members 10 and 11 the movable mechanismor element I6 is not influenced. On the other hand, if the rail member 7is deformed at the location A, as indicated in FIG. 5, then thismechanism 16 indicates the displacement of such point A. It will be seenfrom FIG. 5 that such displacement of point A can be represented orshown at a suitable graduated scale 50.

Consequently, it will be observed that the measuring mechanism 16measures the displacement of the element or measuring device 1 above theimaginary point P wherein such displacements are measured with respectto the reference line through both of the points C and D. Consequently,when the point P is located above the point B, then, the mechanism 16will measure the displacements of the point B, and the displacements orshifting of the point A naturally will not have any influence. Thus, byselecting the convergence point of the rod members 10 and 11, it ispossible to randomly vary the influence of the points A and B upon theindication of the mechanism 16.

If the apparatus of the invention is used in conjunction with a machinefor the correction of the track position, then it enables considerablereduction in the influence of local track errors upon the correctionscarried out by the machine 15. since the measurements are not withrespect to a point, rather are based upon an error which is determinedfrom a number of measurement points. This is so because the measurementis not undertaken at a point, rather is determined as an average valueof a number of error determinations performed at different points. Inactuality, if one assumes that the track is deformed at point A of FIG.6, as well as if it is assumed that the imaginary point P is located atthe depicted position of FIG. 6, then from FIG. 7 it will be recognizedthat the effect of the error d upon the position of the imaginary pointP is reduced and that the reduction is still even more pronounced atpoint C.

The apparatus according to the invention possesses the advantage that ithas a long measuring datum or basis, without exhibiting the drawbackspreviously discussed such as susceptibility to oscillations anddeformability.

The invention also contemplates that the hinge points 10a, 11a for therod members 10, 11, respectively, can be mounted at an adjustablesupport 51 (FIG. 6) at the carriage 8, in order to provide thepossibility of varying the point of convergence P of such rod members 10and 11 and therefore to conveniently change the position of thisimaginary convergence point P. It will be seen from FIG. 6a that theadjustable support 51 includes a dovetail slot for slidably receiving,for selective vertical adjustment, the ends 10a and 11a of the rodmembers l and 11, respectively, which then can be fixed in desiredposition by a wedge means 52 or the like.

Finally, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, asbest recognized by referring to FIG. 8, the deformable element ormechanism 2 consists of two pairs of rod members 10, 11 and 11'. It willbe seen that these rod pairs 10, 11 and l0',1l' are arranged inalignment behind one another in succession and are interconnected withone another by intermediate support or carriage l7. Carriage l7 bearsupon the track 7 through the agency of a roller 18. Furthermore, it isalso possible to use an element or deformable mechanism 2 which consistsof more than two pairs of rod members, which, in turn, are operativelyinterconnected with one another through a suitable number ofintermediate carriages or supports, such as the ones shown by referencecharacter 17, Su an arrangement enables the element 2 to be appreciablylengthened without necessitating the use ofextremely long connectingrods.

It will be understood that for convenience, the apparatus according tothe invention, has been depicted and described with respect to a singletrack rail, yet it should be clear that each of both elements 1 and 3,the measuring devices, can bear upon both rails of the railroad track,whereby their position will be determined by two points at each trackrail. In such case, the rods 10 and 11 can be connected with theelements 1 and 3 at locations situated at the central plane of thetrack.

Furthermore, for measuring during track-lining operations, it ispossible to replace the superimposed rod members 10 and 11 by convergingrod members which are situated in a plane which is parallel to the planeof the track, as best shown by referring to FIG. 6b. I

Finally, it is mentioned that the apparatus of the invention can beassociated with a track maintenance machine and can control thecorrection work carried out by such a machine; however, it can also beused as an independent measuring apparatus.

It should be apparent from the foregoing detailed description, that theobjects set forth at the outset of the specification have beensuccessfully achieved.

l claim:

1. A measuring apparatus for the geometric checking and/or correction ofrailroad tracks incorporating spaced rails, comprising two measuringmeans defining two reference datums extending in the lengthwisedirection of the track, said measuring means bearing upon at leastone'track rail, one of said measuring means defining a first referencedatum bearing upon two points along the track rail, which points definea straight line, the other of said measuring means defining a secondreference datum bearing upon two other points of the track rail defininganother portion of a straight line, a deformable mechanism incorporatingat least two converging rod members and defining a linkage mechanism foroperatively interconnecting with one another said first reference datumand said second reference datum defined by said measuring means, saidconverging rod members being connected in the direction of theirconverging ends with said measuring means defining said second referencedatum, a measuring element movably connected with said first referencedatum defined by said one measuring means, the diverging ends of saidrod members being articulated with said movable measuring element, saidconverging rod members converging at a point selected to be disposedperpendicular to a point of the track rail situated forwardly of saidfirst reference datum and at or with said points defining the portion ofsaid straight line defining said second reference datum.

2. A measuring apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said convergingrod members are arranged above one another.

3. A measuring apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said convergingrod members are arranged in a plane which is perpendicular to the planeof the railroad track.

4. A measuring apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said convergingrod members are arranged in a plane which is substantially parallel tothe plane of the railroad track.

5. A measuring apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including meansfor adjusting the point of intersection of said converging rod members.

6. A measuring apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein one end of oneof said rod members is secured to said movable measuring element atalocation at which said movable measuring element is connected with saidone measuring means which carries said movable measuring element.

7. A measuring apparatus for the geometric checking and/or correction ofrailroad tracks incorporating spaced rails, comprising two measuringmeans extending in the lengthwise direction of the track, a deformablemechanism for operatively interconnecting said two measuring means, eachmeasuring means bearing upon at least one of the rails of the railroadtrack, the position of each measuring means being determined by tworeference points, said deformable mechanism incorporating at least twoconverging rod mem bers, a movable element cooperating with one of saidtwo measuring means, the one end portions of said two converging rodmembers being pivotably connected via said movable element with said onemeasuring means and the opposite end portions of said two converging rodmembers being pivotably connected with the other measuring means, saiddeformable mechanism comprising a number of successive pairs of alignedrod members, intermediate support means for interconnecting successivepairs of rod members with one another, said intermediate support meansbearing upon said rails, said rod members being pivotably connected withtheir associated intermediate support means, the respective free ends ofthe first and last pair of rod members of said successive pairs of rodmembers being pivotably connected with a respective one of said twomeasuring means.

pair of rod members is pivotably connected with said other measuringmeans.

9. A measuring apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each measuringmeans bears upon both rails of the railroad track, and wherein theposition of each measuring means is determined by two reference pointsat each track rail.

1. A measuring apparatus for the geometric checking and/or correction ofrailroad tracks incorporating spaced rails, comprising two measuringmeans defining two reference datums extending in the lengthwisedirection of the track, said measuring means bearing upon at least onetrack rail, one of said measuring means defining a first reference datumbearing upon two points along the track rail, which points define astraight line, the other of said measuring means defining a secondreference datum bearing upon two other points of the track rail defininganother portion of a straight line, a deformable mechanism incorporatingat least two converging rod members and defining a linkage mechanism foroperatively interconnecting with one another said first reference datumand said second reference datum defined by said measuring means, saidconverging rod members being connected in the direction of theirconverging ends with said measuring means defining said second referencedatum, a measuring element movably connected with said first referencedatum defined by said one measuring means, the diverging ends of saidrod members being articulated with said movable measuring element, saidconverging rod members converging at a point selected to be disposedperpendicular to a point of the track rail situated forwardly of saidfirst reference datum and at or with said points defining the portion ofsaid straight line defining said second reference datum.
 2. A measuringapparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said converging rod members arearranged above one another.
 3. A measuring apparatus as defined in claim1, wherein said converging rod members are arranged in a plane which isperpendicular to the plane of the railroad track.
 4. A measuringapparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said converging rod members arearranged in a plane which is substantially parallel to the plane of therailroad track.
 5. A measuring apparatus as defined in claim 1, furtherincluding means for adjusting the point of intersection of saidconverging rod members.
 6. A measuring apparatus as defined in claim 1,wherein one end of one of said rod members is secured to said movablemeasuring element at a location at which said movable measuring elementis connected with said one measuring means which carries said movablemeasuring element.
 7. A measuring apparatus for the geometric checkingand/or correction of railroad tracks incorporating spaced rails,comprising two measuring means extending in the lengthwise direction ofthe track, a deformable mechanism for operatively interconnecting saidtwo measuring means, each measuring means bearing upon at least one ofthe rails of the railroad track, the position of each measuring meansbeing determined by two reference points, said deformable mechanismincorporating at least two converging rod members, a movable elementcooperating with one of said two measuring means, the one end portionsof said two converging rod members being pivotably connected via saidmovable element with said one measuring means and the opposite endportions of said two converging rod members being pivotably connectedwith the other measuring means, said deformable mechanism comprising anumber of successive pairs of aligned rod members, intermediate supportmeans for interconnecting successive pairs of rod members with oneanother, said intermediate support means bearing upon said rails, saidrod members being pivotably connected with their associated intermediatesupport means, the respective free ends of the first and last pair ofrod members of said successive pairs of rod members being pivotablyconnected with a respective one of said two measuring means.
 8. Ameasuring apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said first pair ofrod members is pivotably connected via said movable element with saidone measuring means and said last pair of rod members is pivotablyconnected with said other measuring means.
 9. A measuring apparatus asdefined in claim 1, wherein each measuring means bears upon both railsof the railroad track, and wherein the position of each measuring meansis determined by two reference points at each track rail.